COVENTRY are set to officially launch the new speedway season with their press and practice event at Brandon today.

The Buildbase Bees riders and management will be on show publicly for the first time this year, with the stadium open to the public and the team on-track for practice from around 5pm.

Before that, the club will be staging a press conference and photocall during the afternoon, where much of the focus is expected to be on new boss Alun Rossiter, who takes charge for the first time at Wolverhampton next Monday.

Extensive work has been carried out on the Brandon circuit during the month of March so far, and a thankfully dry spell over the last fortnight means track conditions are good and the event will go ahead as scheduled.

Rossiter said: “This winter seems like its taken longer than ever to run. I think for me that’s because I’m not working on my doorstep any more, I have something new to get into and I’m very much looking forward to it.

“The more I look at it, the happier I am with the team and I’m confident that we can have a very good season.”

* Bees have agreed a fixture change with Ipswich which will see them visit Foxhall on Thursday, August 12, rather than April 29. They will still travel to Suffolk on May 27 as initially scheduled.